Black powder in envelope prompts evacuation

Published 7:04 pm, Monday, August 31, 2009

SHELTON -- A Progress Drive business was evacuated Monday afternoon after an employee opened an envelope that contained an unknown black powder.

Shelton fire and police, along with the Derby hazardous materials team, responded to the call at Mutual Security Credit Union at 12 Progress Drive around 2:48 p.m. A short time later the FBI was called in to investigate because it happened at a credit union, Shelton Det. Ben Trabka said.

"They'll be running tests on the substance," Trabka said.

The powder was found in an envelope that contained a payment sent to the credit union, Trabka said.

There was no note or threat included with the powder, he said, but employees contacted police as soon as the powder was discovered.

"At this point, there is no threat associated with it," Trabka said.

The credit union offices were evacuated as a precaution, Trabka said, while emergency workers waited for the FBI investigative team to arrive. Firefighters were charged with rerouting traffic around the building as well.

"It could be something innocuous," Trabka said. "In this day and age, everything has to be checked out."

It will take some time for the FBI's test results on the powder to come in, he said.